MANILA – Converge FiberXers leaned on a huge third quarter breakaway to dominate Terrafirma Dyip, 127-95, in the PBA Governors’ Cup last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Reinforcement Scotty Hopson had an impressive debut with 46 points, including three four-point baskets, to go with eight rebounds and three assists as the FiberXers tied the TNT Tropang Giga and Meralco Bolts on top in Group A with 1-0 win-loss slate.
Alec Stockton added 21 markers, with majority coming in the third quarter, while Deschon Winston and Justin Arana contributed 14 and 13, respectively, to give FiberXers interim coach Franco Atienza a winning debut.
Holding to a slim 53-49 lead after the first two quarters, the FiberXers went to work early in the third quarter behind Kevin Racal, Hopson and Stockton as the lead grew to 100-67.
The Dyip tried to claw their way back in the fourth quarter behind Stanley Pringle and Kevin Ferrer, but the FiberXers had answers from Hopson and Winston to seal the victory.
Pringle made his Dyip debut with 19 points, Antonio Hester and Ferrer added 18 markers apiece, while Christian Standhardinger and Juami Tiongson ended with 17 and 10 markers, respectively.
Meanwhile, defending champions TNT Tropang Giga banked on an all-around performance by Rondae Hollis-Jefferson to defeat NorthPort Batang Pier, 101-95, on Tuesday night.
The former NBA player posted a double-double of 32 points and 10 rebounds to go with five assists, four steals, and four blocks as the Tropang Giga tied sister team Meralco Bolts on top of Group A with 1-0 record.
Calvin Oftana added 15 markers, including two four-point shot, Rey Nambatac debuted with 13 points and Glenn Khobuntin ended with 12 points for TNT, which were shorthanded with the absence of Roger Pogoy and Kelly Williams.
“I think the difference is, in certain stretches, we were able to have successive stops and scores, I think that’s the key to this win,” Tropang Giga head coach Vincent “Chot’’ Reyes said./PN
BOX SCORE:
CONVERGE 127 – Hopson 46, Stockton 21, Winston 14, Arana 13, Racal 9, Santos 5, Delos Santos 4, Melecio 4, Andrade 3, Maagdenberg 3, Nieto 2, Fornillos 2, Cabagnot 1, Ambohot 0, Caralipio 0, Vigan-Fleming 0.
TERRAFIRMA 95 – Pringle 19, Hester 18, Ferrer 18, Standhardinger 17, Tiongson 10, Ramos 5, Carino 4, Hanapi 2, Hernandez 2, Cahilig 0, Olivario 0.
Quarterscores: 34-25, 53-49, 100-67, 127-95.
